Last Man Standing was one of ABC's most popular sitcoms. Its stellar ratings (it was the second watched comedy on ABC behind Modern Family) and star power made viewers shake their heads when the network announced its cancellation after six seasons in May.
Tim Allen starred as Mike Baxter, a conservative father who wasn't shy about torching political correctness and Hillary Clinton. He excelled at making jokes at the Democrat's expense, not to mention those coddled college kids. ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey insisted their decision to nix the program was not based on politics, but contract issues. It was "disappointing" they no longer had room for the show on their Friday schedule, she added.
Allen was "blindsided" at the time of the announcement and he is still not buying ABC's explanation. During his appearance on Norm MacDonald Live, Allen insisted the network couldn't have handled the situation worse and mused that the producers must have been intimidated by his outspoken character.
"I always wanted Last Man Standing to be like [All in the Family's] Archie Bunker," Allen said. "Archie Bunker pushed boundaries, but Carroll O'Connor was not that guy at all. I am a version of that guy. But there is nothing more dangerous, especially in this climate, than a funny, likable conservative character. He is mitigated on the show by a family of women who had a difference of opinions, but [Mike Baxter] was a likeable guy and a principled guy about work and ethics and all this stuff, I think."
Baxter was certainly not your typical primetime leading man. Were the fans robbed because of politics?
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